A Moral America

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: "Non-Partisan" GOP Think Tanks

Mon, 16 Jan 2006 12:00:07 -0600

Heads up! Here's a list of "GOP Groups" from the Republican National Committee's web site:

American Conservative Union
American Enterprise Institute*
American Values
Americans for Tax Reform
Campaign for Working Families
Citizens for a Sound Economy
Coaliton for Urban Renewal and Education
College Republican National Committee
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy
CPAC
Empower America
Frontiers of Freedom
GOPAC
Heritage Foundation*
Leadership Institute
National Assembly of Irish American Republicans
National Conference of Republican County Officials
National Federation of Republican Women
National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
National Taxpayers Union & National Taxpayers Union Foundation
National Teen Age Republicans
New Century Project
Republican Governor's Association
Republican Jewish Coaltion
Republican Liberty Caucus
Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Republican National Lawyers Association
Republicans Abroad International
The WISH List
Young Republican National Federation, Inc.

*501(c)(3) tax status forbids these organizations from participating in any campaign for elected public office. This means that they may not take an institutional position for or against any political candidate and may not permit its resources, including the on-the-job time of its salaried employees, to be used in an electoral campaign. In addition, the law also reads:

[A nonprofit] ...may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities...

And yet, here they are on the GOP's web site, listed as a "GOP group." Hmmmm...

The Morality of the Republican Party: Walking in Jesus' Sandals

Tue, 3 Jan 2006 22:58:39 -0600

Pop Quiz: Which political party (choose from Democrat or Republican) espouses the following societal values:

1. When people declare war against us, we should do nothing.

2. Wealthy people should not exist -- all wealthy people should be made to give their money to the poor.

3. It's wrong to put someone to death, no matter what his or her crime is.

4. The government should do everything it can to promote peace, and to ensure that all people get assistance when needed.

STOP Saying the War on "Terror!"

Tue, 3 Jan 2006 10:46:47 -0600

Okay, this is a quickie, but it is really starting to bug me: The word "terror" is not the same as "terrorism." Observe:

ter·ror ( P ) n.
1. Intense, overpowering fear. See Synonyms at fear.
2. One that instills intense fear: a rabid dog that became the terror of the neighborhood.
3. The ability to instill intense fear: the terror of jackboots pounding down the street.
4. Violence committed or threatened by a group to intimidate or coerce a population, as for military or political purposes.
5. Informal. An annoying or intolerable pest: that little terror of a child.

ter·ror·ism ( P ) n. The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.